Margot Robbie, the star of the upcoming Barbie movie, recently discussed her initial concerns about the project and why she believed Mattel, the company behind Barbie, might not approve of the script. In an interview with Fandango, Robbie shared that she doubted Mattel would allow the movie to be made because the CEO of the company is portrayed as a character in the film. Will Ferrell takes on the fictionalized role of the CEO. Robbie explained that she saw Mattel as a character itself and thought they would reject the concept. However, the movie proceeded, and Robbie expressed her excitement for the “pinkest” film of the year.
The movie, which remains shrouded in secrecy, received a sneak peek through a trailer released on June 21. The trailer featured an introductory message from Robbie and Ryan Gosling, who promised a vibrant and colorful experience. In the footage, Robbie’s character explains to human girls that women in their world can do everything men can, highlighting Barbie’s diverse professions. The trailer was accompanied by the collaboration between Ice Spice and Nicki Minaj, “Barbie World.”
Warner Bros. unveiled 23 character posters in April, revealing the extensive cast of the long-awaited Barbie movie. Robbie stars as Barbie, with Gosling portraying Ken. The posters also confirmed the participation of various actors, including Issa Rae, Nicola Coughlan, Sharon Rooney, Hari Nef, Emma Mackey, Ritu Arya, Kate McKinnon, and pop star Dua Lipa as a mermaid Barbie. Dua Lipa’s song is set to be featured on the movie’s soundtrack.
The first teaser trailer for the movie, released in December 2022, paid homage to Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” and showcased an over-the-top and humorous portrayal of the Barbie universe. The teaser introduced the idea of dolls always being baby dolls until the arrival of Robbie’s larger-than-life Barbie character, prompting little girls to abandon their baby dolls. The trailer made a strong impact in a short amount of time.
Director Greta Gerwig discussed her initial fear and excitement for the project on Dua Lipa’s podcast in November. She described the process of writing the script as both terrifying and invigorating. Gerwig expressed that starting from a place of uncertainty often leads to the best outcomes. Robbie approached Gerwig to write the script, and although Gerwig enlisted her partner Noah Baumbach without consulting him, she embraced the opportunity. Despite doubts and uncertainties, Gerwig and Baumbach were inspired to take on the project, driven by their faith in Robbie and their intuition.
Robbie admitted that she herself had reservations about the movie’s approval, believing it might never see the light of day. However, the project eventually received the green light. Production for the movie seemed to have wrapped in July 2022, with various cast members sharing behind-the-scenes photos and expressing gratitude for their experience.
While details about the plot remained largely undisclosed, the film’s full-length trailer was released in May, giving a glimpse into Barbie Land and the adventures Robbie’s character embarks on with Gosling’s Ken. The trailer showcases a vibrant Barbie world that is disrupted when Robbie’s character begins to question her identity and existence.
